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Gun Violence

Every year, more than 30,000 Americans die as a result or gun violence or accidental shootings; that's 10 times the number of casualties in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. While Buddhism has nothing to say about any Second Amendment debate— everyone is free to take whatever position they prefer—it certainly recognizes that in life, as in physics, every effect arises from a cause. Acting out in a violent way towards another (or against one’s self) denies the value inherent of the individual's life. Consistent Buddhist practice nurtures self-control and self-confidence, which, in turn, suppress our urges to lash out. In the words of a famous Tibetan lama, “Be gentle first with yourself if you wish to be gentle with others.”